The scale of damage to crops due to unseasonal rain since March in the district can be gauged by the assessment report compiled by revenue officials. After a survey of the farm lands, they have identified 71,748 farmers as having suffered 50% or more crop damage.

For most farmers who had expected a good crop that would enable them to repay loans, the future seems bleak. Some have not been able to cope with the loss and have succumbed to shock. Till Tuesday, 18 farmer deaths have been reported in the district. While three deaths — one each was reported from Badaun, Bareilly and Pilibhit district.

As per reports, a total of 1, 49,912 farmers in the district were identified by revenue officials as having suffered crop damage, including 78,164 whose faced damage ranging from 25 to 49%. As many as 71,748 farmers were identified by as suffering from 50% or more damage.

It may be recalled that earlier as many as 20,441 farmers were identified to have suffered 50% or more crop damage in March. However, the tally of affected farmers has risen after untimely rainfall in March-end and first week of April. More farmers (51,307) were identified by revenue officials.

Talking to reporters, district magistrate Gaurav Dayal said, "There is no laxity in relief measures on our part. We are still awaiting crop damage compensation money from the Government of India (GOI), which so far has not granted the already sanctioned money for distribution among the affected farmers."

He added, "We had already distributed 1.5 crore as relief among 4,000 farmers and as soon as we get the other instalment, we will immediately distribute it among farmers."

ADM (finance and revenue) Manoj Kumar said, "An added demand of Rs 20.41crore was sent to state government after a large number of farmers were identified to be affected by revenue teams during the current survey."

It may be recalled that local authorities had already claimed Rs 16.68 crore for meeting crop damage in March for paying of 20,441 farmers.

He added, "Iffco-Tokia an insurance company will distribute over Rs 2.73 crore among 12,591 farmers within 10 days and orders had been already issued not to force farmers to pay loan installments. Moreover, new loans will also be available for interested farmers in spite of old loans."

Source - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/